Palmball
The palmball—often simply called a “palm”—is a type of changeup.
It gets its name from the way it is gripped: instead of holding the ball with the fingers, it is cradled in the palm of the hand.
Because the ball is thrown without using the fingertips, spin is reduced even more than with a typical changeup.
As a result, air resistance increases, leading to greater deceleration and more pronounced downward movement.
With advanced control, it is even possible to reduce spin to the point where the ball develops an unpredictable, fluttering motion similar to a knuckleball.
Grip the ball by wrapping your hand around it, as if cradling it in your palm.
Lift all your fingertips off the ball and hold it using the base joints of your fingers.
Grip and Release
Do not use your wrist at release.
Instead, allow the ball to come out naturally through the centrifugal force generated by your arm motion.
Unlike many other pitches, you do not roll the ball off your fingertips.
Because the grip is highly unconventional and unstable, control can be difficult at first.
The ball may slip out unexpectedly, sail off target, or be thrown into the ground.
To improve control, adjust your wrist angle and release point until you can consistently locate the pitch.
If you begin the motion with your fingers already lifted off the ball, hitters may be able to recognize the pitch.
To avoid tipping, it may be helpful to keep your fingers in contact with the ball until just before release.
The palmball is most effective when thrown with minimal spin and maximum deception.
Focus on feel and control to develop a reliable off-speed pitch with strong drop and unpredictable movement.